Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 9, 2023

The course held its dangers, but long experience had taught him that to walk through besetting perils was less risk than to run from them.”
–William MacLeod Raine (The Sheriff’s Son)

“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
–2 John 6 (NKJV)
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I have been doing a brief study of the small, personal letters of John (2 and 3 John). They are written to individuals and they give exhortation, especially regarding the truth, and warnings. I want to draw your attention to a couple of verses.

“I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.” –2 John 4 (NKJV)
“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” –3 John 3-4 (NKJV)

That should be our goal, our expectation–to walk in the truth. The verse 2 John is translated by the RSV as “following the truth” and the NEB puts it this way, “living by the truth.” In this day where truth is considered to be relative, we continue to be steadfast in our walk. We follow the truth; we live by the truth. We obey the truth, and we seek to conform our lives to the truth. We walk according to the ways of God rather than the ways of the world.
To walk in the truth means that we have an authentic relationship with God. If our walk is genuine, it must be based upon His Word, no deviations, no compromise, but steadfast in the truth. Perhaps this would be a good time to read Psalm 119 for it deals with the Word of God and how it affects our lives and how we base our lives upon it. Barclay says, “The truth is not simply something to be intellectually assimilated; it is the knowledge which fills a man’s mind and the charity which clothes his life. The truth is what makes a man think and act like God.”
This world cries for toleration, but that can go only so far. Be tolerant until it comes to the truth! A man came to me once with a divisive doctrinal error regarding Jesus. I confronted him with it, and he said, in some many words, for me to compromise, to be tolerant. He said, “Can we agree to disagree”? “NO!” Was my reply, “not when it comes to heresy regarding Jesus Christ.” No matter what gospel Oprah pushes, Jesus is the only truth. Listen to His declaration: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, NKJV).
The truth of our life–our walk–should line up with that of Jesus. 3 John implies that the truth is more than just to give assent to it. “It means to apply it to one’s behavior.” (John Stott) There is no difference between the profession of the truth and the practical living by the truth. These verses in 3 John could be translated, “the truth of your life” (RSV) or our “faithfulness to the truth.” (NIV)
So as you and I go down this pathway of life, let us stay true to the truth of God’s Word. Let us neither sway to the left or the right, but focus our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Walk in the way, because He is the way. Walk in the truth, because He is the truth. Let our lives be so guided by the truth of God’s Word that He will smile upon our faithfulness. Stay in the way, the bright and shining way… (J.S. Torbett) Upon reading these verses by the pen of John I am reminded of the great old hymn by J.H. Sammis:

“When we walk with the Lord
In the Light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!”

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 8, 2023

Facts were cold hard things. He had hidden his real identity; he had buried the past; he had risen on stepping-stones of his dead self to honest useful service; he had earned peace and victory, if not real happiness.”
–Zane Grey (Nevada)

“For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.”

–2 Corinthians 9:12 (NKJV)
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16 — So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17 — And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 — “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 — To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
20 — Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 — And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
–Luke 4:16-21(NKJV)

Can you imagine the stir this caused? I would have liked to see the faces of those in the room, from normal people to those men of the law. This is the major turning point in the life of Jesus. Yes, He was called. Yes, He had been baptized and the Spirit had come upon Him. However, all of that could have been put aside until He proclaimed that the prophecy of Isaiah was now fulfilled.
Jesus was all about His mission; He never deterred from that. However, part of that mission was to be of service. Look at the above verses again; it is service-oriented. Service was the center of His whole spiritual journey. He worshiped His father in the synagogue, but also in the wilderness, but even more so among the people to which He ministered. John records the words of Jesus, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me.” (John 10:37, NKJV).
He ministered to the children, not wanting any of them to perish (Matthew 18:14); when He prayed He remembered His friends who needed help and guidance. He healed the sick, the wounded, the lame, the leper, the blind, and cast out demons. He also ministered to the spiritual needs of those He came in contact with. Yes, this is worship. Too often in our day we think of worship as singing and praise, and maybe hopping around the front of the church, and that may be worship. However, the closest term in the New Testament to “worship” is that of “service. We worship when we obey His commandments, and what are they? “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39, NKJV)
Love to God equals service to God–that is worship. Love to your neighbor equals service to your neighbor–that is worship. “His public worship, His faith in God, His private prayer, His eternal hope, and His transfigured hours all centered round and issued in a devoted life of helpfulness to people.” (H.E. Fosdick) We must not miss the meaning and purpose of Jesus’ life for it is to be ours as well.
Much more could be said regarding the verses in Luke, but this will suffice for today. Study them closely, look at them seriously, and regard how they should affect your lives. In my reading I came across a prayer from the Gelasian Sacramentary which is supposed to be the second oldest western liturgical book. “O Thou, who art the Light of the minds that know Thee, the Life of the souls that love Thee, and the Strength of the thoughts that seek Thee; help us so to know Thee, that we may truly love Thee, so to love Thee that we may fully serve Thee, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 7, 2023

Miles’ cabin had been broken into, and from the looks of it Two-Bits, Molly’s horse had been stolen. Could it be the man that Miles was after, the crooked deputy of Todd Johnson, Lark Collins? Come with me now as we follow the trail of Miles Forrest as he seeks to retrieve the stolen horse and bring the culprit to justice.

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Noticing the saddle was gone from the tack room and that Two-Bits was missing from the pasture I had to surmise that she had been stolen. I also didn’t like the fact that the sanctity of our home had been violated with the break in, besides the eating of our food. It seemed to fit that this was the man I had been looking for.

Going back to the cabin I found Molly cleaning up the place. She said that she couldn’t find anything missing, but then stomped her foot, “The audacity of coming in uninvited to eat our food!”

I had to smile at her indignation. “Pack me up some food for the trail. He’s stolen Two-Bits,” I said matter-of-factly. “I’ll need enough for a couple of days.”

She sighed and nodded. I went back out to round up one of my horses. I thought about taking Star. If he headed west, Star would catch up quickly. On the other hand, if I had to move slowly, and up into the mountains, Hawk would be a better choice. Looking around, letting my inner senses work, I decided on Hawk. If anything I figured that Lark would try to make it back to Silverton. He might try to board the train at Hermosa.

By the time I’d saddled Hawk and walked him back to the cabin, Molly had a sack of food for me, my bedroll, and handed me my heavy coat. “If you’re headed north or east you might need this,” she said, then looked up at the sky. “This is November, and I sense a storm coming.”

I nodded in agreement not knowing if she meant an actual storm or one that would happen when I caught up with the thief. Taking the sack from her hand I wrapped the cord tying it to the saddle horn with my canteen on the other side. Mounting up I moved back to the stalls where I would pick up the tracks of Two-Bits. She would be easy to follow, I knew her tracks by heart and she had a short stride.

The man didn’t try to hide his tracks but headed on out toward the river and north. Since I knew the tracks of Two-Bits I could follow at a fairly good pace. I had been out for an hour and was moving up the canyon when the temperature seemed to all of a sudden drop and the wind picked up. Twenty minutes later snow gently began to fall I stopped to don my sheepskin coat. It would be dark before reaching Hermosa. If I didn’t catch up with him before getting there at least I wouldn’t have to sleep outside in the cold.

Watching carefully, I figured that the tracks might head off toward one of the ranches in the area, but no, they kept plodding north. With the storm beginning to develop, darkness swept down rapidly. It was dark when I saw a few lights in homes and buildings in Hermosa. It was a small town, built to supply the railroad. It only made sense that Lark would find refuge somewhere in the little community.

I went first to the little livery in the town to check if Two-Bits was there, and then to find a stall for Hawk for the night. The hostler said that no one had come by and that he would grain and water Hawk. He informed me that there wasn’t another livery in the town but that a couple of places had small corrals–the hotel and the mercantile to which he pointed.

To get to the hotel I had to pass the store, so I checked the corral behind it. Nothing. I ventured on to the hotel and before entering to get a room, I went to the corral in the back. Again, no horses. I couldn’t follow the tracks in the dark if he decided to continue north. There were small groups of houses further north, eight miles or so, but I didn’t think he was that far ahead of me. By the time I entered the hotel, the wind was beginning to gust harder and the snow came down faster. I didn’t feel so sorry for the man if he decided to camp out in it as I did for Two-Bits. The man should have more sense.

There was a small cafe in the hotel and after securing my room I went for a bite to eat. After a dinner of venison stew I went up to my room. The hotel was small, only ten rooms, but each one of them had a small fireplace with wood stacked next to it. The snow was coming down regular, and the temperature was dropping rapidly. It took a minute or so, but soon I had a fire going.

Pulling off my boots I laid on top of the bed, pulling my Bible from the saddlebag. Now, I’m not one to try to throw a fleece before the Lord, but He has done so many wonderful and amazing things for me in the past, when my finger touched a verse it seemed to tingle. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” I knew that verse by heart, but it seemed to blaze within my soul. Laying the Bible down on my chest I gazed up toward the ceiling and smiled…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 6, 2023

He was riding in his own country, in wild country.”

–Louis L’Amour (Borden Chantry)

“Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths.”

–Psalm 25:4 (HCSB)
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As we have looked at Psalm 105 we have seen that it is a psalm of reminder. It focuses on the history of Israel and God’s deliverance throughout their history. With this month of Thanksgiving, why not sit down and write, or at least think, about all the times that God has taken care of you. The many times He has delivered you from possible death, the times He has been there when sickness was in the house. Most reading this will not know the feeling of starvation for there was always some food on the table. You may have gone from steak to beans, but there was sustenance. A roof overhead, a bed, but most importantly the knowledge that God was there with you.

37 — He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes.
38 — Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen upon them.
39 — He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.
40 — The people asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 — He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it ran in the dry places like a river.
42 — For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant.
43 — He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness.
44 — He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, and they inherited the labor of the nations,
45 — That they might observe His statutes and keep His laws. Praise the LORD! (NKJV)

God is there to protect and guide. A cloud for covering and fire to give light. It served as a guide in the wilderness, a shield of protection, and a covering for the manifestations of God’s glorious presence. If you are in the midst of a wilderness why not look up and see the cloud of God hovering over you? He is there, just as He was with the Israelites. F.B. Meyer said, “Dare to believe that one day, when you know as you are known, you shall understand the lovingkindness that underlay your darkest experience.”
In the midst of your turmoil and troubles remember the Lord, His dealings in the Scriptures, and His covering over you in the past. God is faithful and He will take care of our needs. If the need arises He will give food from heaven, or He will open up the rock to satisfy our thirst. To bring it closer to home, the “Rock” has been struck and from this Rock flow the waters of life which if we drink of Him we will never thirst (John 4:13-14).
This psalm records five hundred years of God’s unbroken faithfulness toward His people. Think and know–that God’s eternal purposes are still being carried out in the world in which we live. We should have confidence in the God who rules history. George O. Wood puts it this way, “If today is not one of joy, God’s tomorrow will be. The Lord will never leave or abandon you in ‘Egypt’ or ‘the wilderness.’ He intends to bring you into a place where the ecstasy far outweighs the agony.” Perhaps this is a good place to utter those last words of the psalm — Praise the LORD!

“Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread
And raiment fit provide.”
–Philip Doddridge